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Paolo Di Canio has been a hot topic of conversation this week (Picture: AP)

A defiant Paolo Di Canio claimed to be baffled by the furore surrounding his appointment at Sunderland, and insisted he was a simple family man who would win round his critics with results on the pitch.

Speaking at his first press conference since replacing the sacked Martin O’Neill, the Italian reacted angrily to questions about whether he regarded himself a fascist and refused to talk about anything other than football.

Di Canio, 44, has admitted in the past he was ‘fascist but not a racist’, but was in no mood to discuss what he believes to be old news as he was officially unveiled as the new Black Cats boss.

‘My life speaks for me so there is no need to speak any more about this situation because it’s ridiculous and pathetic,’ he said.

Asked whether he would meet with the Durham Miners’ Association, who said the appointment was a ‘disgrace’ and have asked the club to return a banner kept at the Stadium of Light if he remains in his post, Di Canio said: ‘I don’t understand this problem.

Paolo Di Canio was named as Sunderland’s new manager on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

‘I am a manager, I’m a normal man, I’m a family man.’

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Di Canio was adamant the controversy would not impact on his main focus – keeping the Black Cats in the Premier League – and vowed, like at Swindon previously, he would win over those fans unhappy at his appointment.

He said: ‘It was the same for a different reason at Swindon.

‘The press call me the mad Italian but I would confidently bet everything I have on Sunderland remaining in the top flight.’